Knockdown level.



N. L. HAYDEN.

KNOGKDOWN LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. so, 1913.

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Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

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ET El STATES PATNT OFIE NOAH L. HAYDEN, OF BISBEE, ARIZONA.

KNOCKDOWN LEVEL.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NOAH L. HAYDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bisbee, in the county of Cochise and State of Arizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Levels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to spirit levels, and as its principal object contemplates the provision of a device of the character set forth which may be formed in detachably connected sections designed particularly to permit the instrument to be used in small corners and inaccessible places in which the level of ordinary length and construction cannot be inserted.

A further object of this invention is to construct the device with such regard to proportion, number and arrangement of parts that the instrument may be cheaply manufactured and will be durable and eflicient in the performance of its function.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation taken longitudinally of the instrument, with the various sections in assembled position; Fig. 2- is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4c is a section on the line t4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. l.

Proceeding now to the description of the drawings, the level of this invention includes Specification of Letters Batent.

Application filed April 30, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Serial No. 764,655.

three sections, a center or main section and a pair of detachably connected end sections.

Taking up as first in order the description of the center section, this element of the instrument, designated as an entirety in Fig. 1 by the numeral 1, includes a metallic body member 2. preferably formed of aluminum or some other similar light metal. The body 2 is formed with two end openings 3 and 4:

extending in lateral relation to the longitudinal axis of the body 2 and formed to receive level glass tubes 5. The upper edge of the body 2 is formed with a suitable recess wherein is mounted a glass tube level similar to those in the openings 3 and 4, but slightly larger in size. The body memher 2 is substantially rectangular in shape and is equipped with an encircling edge band 6, formed of iron, brass, or other durable metal, and provided for the obvious pur pose of protecting the body portion 2 which, being formed of aluminum, is more easily damaged by contact with foreign objects than an iron or steel band.

The end sections designated as entireties by the numerals 7 and 8 include a body portion, preferably formed of aluminum or a similar light metallic material and equipped with a protecting rim band 9, similar to the member 6 of the center body 2. The end sections 7 and 8 are not, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, equipped with level glasses, but are intended to serve as extensions of the supporting surface of the level to enable the user of the instrument to obtain a more accurate readmg.

As a means for detachably connecting the end sections with the center section, this invention employs a pair of hook members 10 mounted in the openings 11 formed in the inner terminals of each of the end sections, and held in the desired position by a set screw 12, having threaded engagement with the band 9, by which the angular relation of the hook to the longitudinal axis of the members 7 and 8 may be adjusted. The hook members 10 operate through openings till formed in the vertical portions 18 of the bands 9, and are arranged to grippingly engage a horizontally disposed, laterally extending pin 1 1, mounted in the lower corners of the band 6 and accessible through a quadrantal opening 15 formed in the body portion. in opening similar to the opening 15 is formed in the body portion 2 at each corner thereof, for a purpose to be hereinatter disclosed.

ii recess 16 is formed in the upper and inner corner of each of the body members 7 and 8 to permit an attaching bolt'lT, slidably mounted in a dependent ear 18 carried on the under face of the band 9, to be withdrawn from threaded engagement with the upper terminal of the vertical portion 1%) oi the band 6. The bolt 1'7 is screw threaded at its one terminal to permit it to be threaded into an internally screw threaded bore termed in the member 19, as above described. This bolt carries a milled nut 20 formed on the bolt intermediate its length, and disposed within the opening 11. The member 1'7 operates throu h a bore formed in the vertical portion 1o of the band 9 in alinement with the screw threaded bore of the portion 19 of the band 5.

As a means for insuring a proper alinement of the end sections with the center sections, during the assembling of the device, there has been provided a pair of position pins 21 extending laterally from the connected terminal of each end section. The pins are adapted to be seated in bores 22 formed in the terminals of the center section.

It will be readily observed that when it is desired to remove the end sections from the center section it is only necessary to grip the nut 20 and turn the bolt 17 negatively, thus withdrawing the threaded portion of the bolt from the screw threaded bore of the member 19, and sliding the bolt 17 rearwardly into the recess 16. After the threaded terminal oi the member 17 has been withdrawn from the member 19, it then remains to swing the sections downwardly with a resultant swinging moven'ient and withdrawal of the hook 10 from engagement with the pin 1 1. It is desirable to emphasize in this connection the extreme simplicity and elliciency of the means employed in attaching the end sections, and to further emphasize the fact that this invention provides a spirit level of light and durable metallic structure. lt is also to be observed that by removing the end sections of the level herein disclosed the use of the instrument may gain access to noois, corners, and portions of structure ordinarily inaccessible when an instrument of the prevalent type is employed.

The preferred form of this invention comprehends the construction of a level in such manner that the combined length of the two end sections is equivalent to the length of the center section, thus making it possible to detach the end sections and arrange tnem alongside of the center section for packing in a single box or receptacle.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most etiicient and practical; yet, realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement 01 parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

ll hat is claimed is:

1. ii spirit leved including a central body section, level glasses mounted therein, a pair or end sections detachably connected to said central section, means for detachably connecting the said sections, said means including a pair of hook membe s adjustably mounted in said end sections, a pair of pin members mounted in the terminals of said central section, said pins being adapted to be engaged by said hook members, and a pair of connecting bolts carried by said end sections and adapted to be screw threaded in the terminals of said center section for holding the said end sections in assembled relation to the said. center section.

2. A spirit level including a central body section, a pair of end sect-ions, means for de tachably connecting the said end sections to the said center sections, said means including a hook member carried by each of said end sections, means for adjusting the angular relation of said heel: members to the longitudinal axis of said end sections, a pin member carried at each end of said center section and adapted to be engaged by said hook member, and a connecting bolt loosely mounted in each of said end sections, said connecting bolts being screw threaded at one terminal and adapted to be screw threaded into the adjacent terminals of said center section.

3. A spirit level comprising a central body section, a pair of end sections, a hook member carried by each of said end sect-ions, means for adjusting the angular relation of said hook members to the longitudinal axis of said end sections, a pin member carried transversely at each end of said center sec tion and adapted to be engaged by said hook member and means for insuring a proper alinement or the several sections, said means con'iprising pins formed on the terminals of the end sections and adapted to be seated in bores formed in the terminals of the center section.

4. A spirit level including a central body section, level glasses arranged therein, a metallic band rim for said center section, a pair of end sections, a metallic band for in presence of tWo Witnesses.

NOAH L. HAYDEN.

said end sections, means for insuring the Witnesses: proper almement of the several sections, CLARK ANTHONY, comprising plns formed on said end sec- C. S. BAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

